Course Descriptions Nurse Anesthesia Program

NRS 602 Advanced Health Assessment I

This course will focus on a systematic approach to advanced health and physical assessment emphasizing best practice, research evidence, cultural competence and anesthetic implications. Highlights advanced peri-operative concepts, diagnosis and approaches for the assessment of human systems in the anesthesia milieu. Systems focus: pulmonary (upper and lower airway), hematologic and cardiovascular systems.

NRS 605 Advanced Pharmacology for Nurse Anesthesia Practice I

This is the first course in a sequence of two courses designed to provide the student with an in-depth knowledge of pharmacology and its application to the clinical practice of anesthesia. General principles of pharmacology including pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics will be studied. The pharmacology of drugs used in anesthesia will be studied including inhalation agents, anesthesia induction drugs, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, narcotics, and non-narcotic analgesics.

NRS 607 Introduction to NA Practice and Clinical Internship I

This is the first in a series of three courses that span three semesters. The course will focus on the principles and practice of nurse anesthesia including the perioperative care for a wide variety of patients undergoing local, regional, or general anesthesia. The class progresses from introductory content to basic case management. Teaching methods include lecture, discussion, case studies, journal review, student presentations, quizzes, written and oral exams.

The clinical internships coincide with the courses. The clinical commitment is 2 days per week.Clinical focus will be orientation to the operating room environment, anesthesia work site, anesthesia assessment, documentation, anesthesia equipment, basic techniques of anesthesia administration and principles of care for patients undergoing local, regional or general anesthesia. Didactic content and proficiency in the performance of various skills (airway management, machine operation, etc) is further enhanced using the Human Patient Simulation Lab.

NRS 615 Nurse Anesthesia Practice I

This is the second of a series of three courses that span three semesters. Each course will focus on the principles and practice of nurse anesthesia including the perioperataive care for a wide variety of patients undergoing local, regional, or general anesthesia. The series progresses from introductory content to complex case management. Teaching methods include lecture, discussion, case studies, journal review, student presentations, quizzes, written and oral exams. The clinical internships coincide with the courses. Topics of study include: geriatrics, burns, trauma, hemodynamic monitoring, ENT/laser surgery, hepatic disease, hematologic disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, neuromuscular disorders, parkinsons/Alzeheimer's/mental disorders, oncology, pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, organ transplantion, and neuroanesthesia.

NRS 617 Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Internship II

Clinical focus will emphasize patient safety and monitoring during administration of anesthesia. Students will participate in the perioperative care for a wide variety of patients undergoing local, regional or general anesthesia. Students will develop anesthesia care plans daily. Didactic content and proficiency in the performance of various skills continues to be enhanced using the Human Patient Simulation Lab. Rotations to clinical affiliate hospitals and weekend assignments begin. Clinical commitment is 3 days per week.

NRS 618 Biophysics for Nurse Anesthesia

This course is designed to assist the nurse anesthesia graduate student in applying the basic principles of chemistry and physics to anesthesia practice. The components of an anesthesia machine will be analyzed and currently available monitoring devices will be reviewed and compared. Nurse anesthesia students will review equipment and monitoring device selection based on the age and physiologic status of patients requiring anesthesia.

NRS 622 Advanced Health Assessment II

This course will focus on a systematic approach to advanced health and physical assessment emphasizing best practice and research evidence, cultural competence and anesthetic implications. Highlights advanced peri-operative concepts, diagnosis and approaches for the assessment of human systems in the anesthesia milieu focusing on the neurological, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal systems.

NRS 625 Nurse Anesthesia Practice II

This is the third of a series of three courses that span three semesters. Each course will focus on the principles and practice of nurse anesthesia including the perioperative care for a wide variety of patients undergoing local, regional, or general anesthesia. The series progresses from introductory content to complex case management. Teaching methods include lecture, discussion, case studies, journal review, student presentations, quizzes, written and oral exams. The clinical internships coincide with the courses. Topics of study include: vascular, thoracic, cardiovascular, pediatrics, and obstetrics.

NRS 627 Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Internship III

Clinical focus will include anesthesia administration for patients undergoing a wide variety of surgical or therapeutic procedures. Increasingly complex cases will be assigned. Students will receive an orientation to various practice settings including major medical centers, community hospitals in suburban or rural settings, and practices that meet the needs of the medically underserved. This internship includes rotations to affiliate sites and off-shift assignments. Daily written care plans are required. Clinical commitment is 3 days a week.

NRS 635 Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management

This course addresses advanced concepts of nurse anesthesia practice in regional anesthesia. Instruction will include a comprehensive review of the basic principles and techniques of regional anesthesia practice. Basic principles of neuroscience related to pain theory and regional anesthesia will be discussed. Emphasis will be on the integration and application of basic principles to achieve effective regional anesthesia as well as acute and chronic pain management. The role of the CRNA in the specialized areas of acute and chronic pain management will be discussed. Teaching methods will include demonstration, lecture, case study, clinical laboratory, journal article presentations, audio-visual and critique.

NRS 637 Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Internship IV

Clinical focus is on providing anesthesia for clinical specialty cases. Clinical assignments will include rotations to affiliating agencies and to areas of specialty practice such as neuro/ENT, cardiac, vascular, thoracic, rural practice, obstetrics, and pediatrics. Care plan requirements, off-shift assignments, and use of simulation continue. Clinical commitment is 4 days a week.

NRS 647 Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Internship V

Clinical focus is on the perioperative care and administration of anesthesia to patients undergoing all types of surgery, utilizing all types of anesthetic techniques in a variety of clinical settings. Care plan requirements, off-shift assignments, and use of simulation continue. Specialty and affiliation rotations continue. Clinical commitment is 4 days a week.

NRS 651 Advanced Pharmacology for Nurse Anesthesia Practice II

This is the second course in a sequence of two courses designed to provide the student with an in-depth knowledge of pharmacology and its application to the clinical practice of anesthesia. The pharmacology of drugs used in anesthesia will be studied including neuromuscular blocking drugs, local anesthetics, cardiovascular pharmacology, autonomic pharmacology, asthma pharmacotherapy, and aspiration pharmacology.

NRS 652 Advanced Pharmacology for Nurse Anesthesia Practice III

Classroom focus is on drugs used to treat psychiatric, respiratory, GI and endocrine and immune disorders. Discussion includes implications of antibiotics, antivirals, chemotherapeutic agents, nutraceutocals, drugs affecting coagulation, antiepileptics, diuretics, blood componants and substitutes, antihyperlipidemics, antimigraines, and herbal medications and their implications in providing anesthesia care. Controlled substance law will be discussed.

NRS 657 Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Internship VI

Clinical focus is on the perioperative care and administration of anesthesia to patients undergoing all types of surgery, utilizing all types of anesthetic techniques in a variety of clinical settings. Specialty and affiliation rotations continue. Care plan requirements, off-shift assignments, and use of simulation continue. The internship includes weekly seminars exploring the history, practice standards, ethical considerations, employment and reimbursement issues that impact the professional nurse anesthetist. Clinical commitment is 4 days a week.

NRS 667 Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Internship VII

Clinical focus will be on developing the ability to provide anesthesia independently and to participate in the full range of perianesthesia care, including pre anesthetic assessment and preparation, teaching, planning, administration, pain management, post anesthesia care and follow-up. Clinical commitment is 4 days a week.